In this episode of Hey, Dancer!, we dive into the science behind how dance transforms your brain — literally.

From reducing dementia risk to growing the hippocampus, boosting memory, sharpening focus, and improving decision-making, every eight-count is working overtime for your mental fitness. Backed by peer-reviewed studies (don't worry, I translated the science), this is your brain on dance.

Whether you're dancing weekly or just getting back into it, this episode will make you prouder than ever to move and groove, baby!

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Studies referenced in the show in the order they appear:

1. Verghese et al., 2003, "Leisure Activities and the Risk of Dementia in the Elderly" (New England Journal of Medicine).
2. Predovan et al., 2017, "Effects of Dance on Cognitive Function in Older Adults: A Pilot Study" (Journal of Aging Research).
3. Rehfeld et al., 2017, "Dancing or Fitness Sport? The Effects of Two Training Programs on Hippocampal Plasticity and Balance Abilities in Healthy Seniors" (Frontiers in Human Neuroscience).
4. Kattenstroth et al., 2013, "Six Months of Dance Intervention Enhances Postural, Sensorimotor, and Cognitive Performance in Elderly Without Affecting Cardio-Respiratory Functions" (Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience).
5. Burzynska et al., 2017, "White Matter Integrity Declined Over 6-Months, but Dance Intervention Improved Integrity of the Fornix of Older Adults" (NeuroImage).
6. Müller et al., 2017, "A Randomized Controlled Trial on the Effects of Dance on Brain Structure and Function" (Frontiers in Human Neuroscience).
7. Wu et al., 2021, "Effects of Dance on Cognitive Function in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis" (BMC Geriatrics).
8. Predovan et al., 2017, "Effects of Dance on Cognitive Function in Older Adults: A Pilot Study" (Journal of Aging Research) – repeated for focus.
9. Karpati et al., 2019, "Superior Visuospatial and Temporal Processing in Dancers and Musicians" (BMC Neuroscience).